New Releases – Page 5 – INDIE ROCK CAFE

2013 DIY Releases – The Stone Foxes, Wild Wants, Brave Baby, Giuseppe Andrews

Posted on 02/18/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

The Best New Releases post from this week featured lead tracks from highly anticipated 2013 albums by Foals, The Little Ones, Veronica Falls, among others, including a dozen more singles from a variety of artists and bands.

In addition to the official release this week of new albums, EPs and singles from indie and alternative artists signed to record labels both large and small, there has also been a huge number of excellent, even out-of-this-world, new releases in the past week from talented and promising DIY bands that most people have never heard of before. In fact, many of the unsigned and talented artists who DIY drop new material each week do not even appear on the radars of high profile indie blogs and music sites, and are often either brand new or simply unknown by even the most intrepid indie music enthusiasts.

That’s why IRC has become a top web destination for music lovers that are hungry for new, exciting, original and talented artists and bands, most of whom have not been profiled on a major music blog before, and for some. We are constantly amazed and thrilled by how much fantastic, totally under-the-radar music is sent to us directly by DIYers that we’d otherwise never hear. For the tens of thousands of music lovers that have been regularly visiting IRC for months and years, we salute you, because you favorite so many of the songs and bands we feature on a regular basis, as evidenced by the weekly Top 10 Songs playlists – which are a reflection of the most popular songs posted in a given week.

Band (Still) to Watch: SF’s The Stone Foxes

San Francisco rock band The Stone Foxes have opened for bands like The Black Keys and Cage The Elephant at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival and New Orleans’ Voodoo Music Experience. They’re also no strangers to these pages with a number of profiles on IRC over the years. And yet for all of their talent, the band is still under-appreciated in the larger arena of well-known alternative garage rock and indie rock bands, which we still find to be a head-scratcher.

The first single from Small Fires, “Everybody Knows,” has been making the rounds in the past couple of months on a number of blogs and mainstream press websites thanks to the song’s standout rock sting. In fact, the track is a modern representation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “A Tell Tale Hear.” The second single, Psycho, is gritty, hard edge garage rock that serves as yet another example of the band’s truly remarkable talents. The track has more of a bluesy rock feel to it than “Everybody Knows,” and includes a Jack White type of harmonica jamming that beckons the memory of classic rock blues bands like the Yardbirds and newer bands like Wolfmother, Dead Weather and The Black Keys. In fact, as mentioned earlier in this post, The Stone Foxes are often compared to Keys – and there are few higher compliments than that nowadays.

“Everybody Knows” – The Stone Foxes from Small Fires – Feb. 12th

“Psycho” – The Stone Foxes from Small Fires

The Stone Foxes Official Website

Hearts & Plugs’ New Sampler Features Brave Baby Single

First up, here are a couple of tracks from a recent Hearts & Plugs Records‘ sampler, including a track from one of our (and based on the statistics, many of you as well) favorite ‘new’ bands of 2013 – Brave Baby – and another from the artist Mr. Jenkins. The sampler also includes tracks from ELIM BOLT, The Lovely Few, and Run Dan Run.

“Lakeside Trust” – Brave Baby from Hearts & Plugs Sampler, Volume 2 – Feb. 1st

“You’re Free” – Mr. Jenkins from Hearts & Plugs Sampler, Volume 2

Seattle Musician Drops Debut Solo Album

Unsigned Seattle musician D.A. Wright, who performs solo as the force behind the new project, Wild Wants, released his debut album, We Are Committed To Excellence!. The album, according to Wright, was “sporadically self-recorded and mixed in various bedrooms, bathrooms, and bandrooms, between day-naps and nights out from July 2011 to December 2012.” Except for the drums, every instrumentation and vocal is Wright’s work, and his penchant for melody, layering and utilization of the full stereo spectrum add a special flare to the album’s overall production, as the two signals here demonstrate. It’s no surprise that his major musical influences include Guided By Voices, The Magnetic Fields, Dr. Dog, The Beatles and The Smiths.

“All Your Answers Will Be Questioned” – Wild Wants from We Are Committed To Excellence! – Feb. 13th

“Twirl My Curls” – Wild Wants from We Are Committed To Excellence!

Netherlands Band April Release Debut Single

Formed in 2011, Utrecht, Netherlands duo APRIL have a sound that has been called “a muscular, Baroque approach to boy-girl guitar pop” supported by the rich and melodic vocals of the Julia Hendriks as well as the growling croon in the lower registers of the band’s frontman, Jorn Mathijssen on new tracks from their new Subroutine Records 7″ single release, including the upbeat, joyous lead track, “The Rise And Fall Of A Beautiful Bird.” Think of a European Matt & Kim. The band has previously opened for artists like The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Rats On Rafts, and Daily Bread.

“The Rise And Fall Of A Beautiful Bird” – APRIL from The Rise and Fall Of A Beautiful Bird 7″ – Feb. 12th

APRIL Official Band Website

Austin’s Giuseppe Andrews Drops New LP

Austin artist Giuseppe Andrews is a prolific musician, filmmaker, and writer who has completed 37 records, 37 films, and seven novels to date. As a teen, Andrews and his father moved to Hollywood and lived in a van before landing roles in movies like Independence Day, Detroit Rock City, American History X, Never Been Kissed and Pleasantville. In 2002, he left Hollywood and acting to move to Austin to pursue music full-time. Giuseppe’s music includes experimental avant garde, pop, rock, comedy, and rap. Here are two top singles from his newest album release, Rubber Duck. This is a case where you cannot judge an album by the cover art (even though people do; and it does make a difference), which itself leaves a lot to be desired.

“Welcome to Air” – Giuseppe Andrews from Rubber Duck – Feb. 12th

“White Mind” – Giuseppe Andrews from Rubber Duck

Orlando Band Stiletto Red Release Debut LP

Orlando alternative rock band Stiletto Red dropped their debut album, Her Love Is A Lie, on Feb. 17th, featuring punchy, rhythmic grooves, sharp, melodic hooks and an artistically-driven, yet classic rock sound. Thrust together by a unified vision that drove them through thick and thin, the band members took leave from different bands and worked around hectic schedules to record their debut album. With songs you can hear and feel loudly, the album handles topics like angst, rage, rites of passage, and finding hope.

“Her Love Is A Lie” – Stiletto Red from Her Love Is A Lie – Feb. 17th

“Further Addiction” – Stiletto Red from Her Love Is A Lie

Stiletto Red Official Website

Way Back Now: Old UK Boy Band Regroups

They were first featured by the legendary John Peel on his popular BBC radio show in the mid 1980’s, but the oddly named ‘boy band’ The Passmore Sisters from Manchester, soon fizzled out and disbanded. Now, all these years later, some of the original members have regrouped to create a new band, Fever Hut, and just released a new album, Segovia. The album was written in Spain and recorded in the U.K. and includes the two singles below, “Ropewalking” and “Love Like A Car Crash.” Contributers to the album included renowned artists like drummer Jonny Cragg, violin virtuoso Davide Rossi (Goldfrapp & Coldplay) and members of the English electro band Zoot Woman on keyboards. The album was dropped on the small indie label, Vegetable Records.

“Ropewalking” – Fever Hut from Segovia – Feb. 14th

“Love Like A Car Crash” – Fever Hut from Segovia

Best New Releases, Week of Feb. 12th – Foals, The Little Ones, Veronica Falls, March Divide, Millionyoung, Pissed Jeans

Posted on 02/15/201301/09/2020 by Max Hammer

There has already been dozens of great 2013 new albums released over the past six weeks, that you can read about, and listen to, or download, the lead track from by browsing the best albums of 2013 posts. This week’s Best New Releases includes a collection of lead singles from new albums out this week from Foals, The Little Ones, Veronica Falls, The March Divide, Millionyoung, Pissed Jeans, The VirginMarys and others.

Foals Release Anticipated LP, Holy Fire

by Ed Biggs
It almost goes without saying that the Album of the Week honors goes to Holy Fire, the third album from one of our favorite bands in recent years, Foals. The quintet has progressed in many ways since their 2010 LP, Total Life Forever. The track, “Inhaler,” released months ago, is a perfect microcosm of Holy Fire – bold, challenging, intelligent and yet utterly accessible.

Tracks like “Bad Habit,” and the newest single, “My Number,” are indicative of Foals’ dynamic post-punk style, this time around mixed with the expansiveness of Joshua Tree-era U2.

Overall, the band’s new album delivers a bigger, fuller sound, which one could attribute to their move to Warner Brothers – a move that some die-hard fans are not happy with, but only time will tell if the move was a wise one. Does signing to Warner mean Foals is no longer an ‘indie’ band?

Some say yes, others say no, and apparently, just from what we’ve been hearing and reading, many others don’t care because the music is what really matters to them most, which is simply logical. So far, the praise of Holy Fire has been fairly universal. And yet lead vocalist Yannis Philippakis and the band, who are extremely ambitious and talented, are also modest about their success in recent years.

“My Number” – Foalsfrom Holy Fire on Warner Bros

Double-shot: “Inhaler” – Foalsfrom Holy Fire on Warner Bros

The Little Ones Finally Release Sophomore LP

The second best album of the week at IRC is The Little Ones‘ long-awaited sophomore LP, The Dawn Sang Along, which is packed with infectious, uptempo twee-pop songs like the bright, melodic lead single, “Forro,” with its glistening guitars, sunny synthesizers, harmony-packed choruses and tropical rhythms. “Forro” is the kind of song that beckons the warmth of springtime, and reminds us that more of winter has passed at this point then is still to remain. It’s a fantastic, upbeat song, and there are other great songs from the LP as well that you can listen to here.

“Forro” – The Little Ones from The Dawn Sang Along on Branches Recording Collective
Listen to “Forro,” or all of The Dawn Sang Along on Spotify.

New Releases from Veronica Falls, The March Divide

Next up is the new single, “Teenage,” from the London indie pop band Veronica Falls‘ sophomore album, Waiting for Something to Happen. The March Divide‘s lead single, “Jose Cuervo,” is one of the more interesting drinking songs we’ve heard in a while set to nothing else but an acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals (almost sounds a little like the Plain White T’s – not sure if that’s a good or bad thing?). Millionyoung kick out a smooth, tropical groove on the track “Lovin’,” followed by the punk rocker, “Cathouse,” by Subpop band Pissed Jeans.

“Teenage” – Veronica Falls from Waiting for Something to Happen on Slumberland Records

“Jose Cuervo” – The March Divide from Music for Film on Dead Letter Records

“Lovin'” – Millionyoung from Variable on Old Flame / Rix Records

“Cathouse” – Pissed Jeans from Honeys on Sub Pop

“Blue Gums Calling Me Back Home” (feat. Kelly Hogan) – Roger Knox from Stranger in My Land on Bloodshot Records

“I Wouldn’t Let Me In If I Were You” – Aina Haina from Aina Haina EP on Badman Recording Co.

“Dressed To Kill” – The Virginmarys from King of Conflict on Wind Up Records

“Seer” – Fear of Men from Early Fragments on Kanine Records

“Shiver” – PVT from Homosapien on Felte

Hit Band Cultfever Drop New Single

Cultfever‘s debut album exploded onto the indie pop scene in 2012, earning praise from MTV Soundtracks, Stereogum, and The Guardian. Their unique sound and captivating live show won them hometown distinction as The Deli Magazine‘s #1 NYC Indie Pop band in 2012. Singles such as “Knewyouwell” and “Collector” propelled them into the CMJ Radio Top 200 charts. Plus, their song, “Strangenecks,” made its prime time debut on MTV’s hit series Awkward. The band are confirmed to play at this year’s SXSW festival next month. Also, the band Powers That Be have dropped their self-titled debut this week, featuring the lead single, “Valencia.”

“Animals” – Cultfever from Animals 7″ single

“Valencia” – Powers that Be from Powers That Be on Don’t Be a Lout Music

Bryan Ferry Releases ‘The Jazz Age’ to Critical Praise

We never want to limit ourselves to one type of music. As lovers of all kinds of music, we can appreciate almost any genre of music. But appreciating a genre of music doesn’t mean that it’s something you listen to regularly, or at all. In that case, there are probably millions of people that have never listened to an entire jazz album of any kind. Still, it is interesting that jazz has been more popular in past years with young people under the age of 35. Bryan Ferry, the legendary 70’s band Roxy Music, has continued to write and record over the decades since Roxy Music disbanded.

Ferry’s latest album, The Jazz Age, is the result of his life-long love for jazz music and his determination to record a jazz album featuring renditions of 13 songs from his extensive rock and roll discography through the prism of a jazz orchestra. The reviews, from The New York Times to Spin, have been overwhelmingly positive and generous in their praise for Ferry’s overall production of The Jazz Age. The following is the official video for the composition, “This Island Earth,” which also has lots of plays and up votes on Soundcloud, where the entire album is streaming.

“This Island Earth” – The Bryan Ferry Orchestra from The Jazz Age on BMG

New DIY Releases from The Ivory Elephant, The Diigz, Weepikes, Youngblood, Electric Kazoo, Animal Games, Fonda

Posted on 02/12/201307/22/2021 by Max Hammer

There’s been a flood of new DIY singles and albums gushing in during recent weeks, including quite a few that that really stand out, and others that demonstrate promise. So far this year, there have been dozens and dozens of 2013 DIY singles from new LPs and EPs that have been popular with listeners and which are accessible by browsing Best New Releases of 2013 posts.

Melbourne Band Spearheads ‘Blues Rock Renaissance’

The Ivory Elephant is a DIY blues rock trio from Melbourne, Australia, pursuing the perfection of what they affectionately dub the “Blues Rock Renaissance.” Schooled musically by their idols like Jimi Hendrix and Muddy Waters, the band mates aim to advance blues rock for a new generation while preserving “the gritty, rootsy feel” that makes the music so appealing to millions of people worldwide for the past half century. According to band member Trent Sterling to achieve that careful balance “means riff based rock’n’roll, lots of guitar solos with an emphasis on the actual tone, and gritty vocals that focus on getting a feeling across rather than being auto-tuned and emotionless.” We think they do a good job of it.

Sterling said “indie rock is not having to conform to what a corporation says you have to sound like. Not having to always have a catchy pop line or synth harmony. It means we can sing how we like, play how we like, and put in as many guitar solos as we want.” “Taxi Driver” is a captivating rocker characterized by the impressive electric guitar playing of Sterling, as well as a thumping bass and complex, but steady drum playing. The second track, “Like A Dog,” has a woozy, bluesy feel to it that is occasionally interrupted by all-out jams. The band consider among their musical influences to be artists like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Black Keys, White Stripes, and Dead Weather.

“Taxi Driver “ – The Ivory Elephant from The Ivory Elephant – Jan. 30th

“Like a Dog” – The Ivory Elephant from The Ivory Elephant

The Ivory Elephant Official Website

Finnish Band Weepikes Drop Debut EP

Weepikes are an alternative punk rock pop band from Helsinki, Finland that emerged in the 1990’s, built a sizable following in Europe and North America before running out of steam in 1997 after only three years together. In January, the band dropped their Weepikes EP (mixed and mastered by Kramer), and will be followed on Friday with the release of their new CD, We Are Weepikes. The band has previously opened for groups like fun. and consider their musical influences to be Sonic Youth, Pixies, The Fall, Ennio Morricone and Angelo Badalamenti.

“Nothing But A Soar” – Weepikes from We Are Weepikes – Feb. 15th

“Bad Valentine” – Weepikes from We Are Weepikes

Belgian Battle of the Bands Winners Youngblood

Youngblood is a five-piece DIY alternative rock band from Limburg, Belgium that formed in 2010, and less than two years later, voted ‘Best Band’ by the jury and the audience at the Hagelandse Rocktrofee battle of the bands. In 2012, they also shared the stage with Dog Eat Dog at the Boerenrock Music Festival. Youngblood’s sound and style fall somewhere in the middle of Foo Fighters and Jimmy Eat World.

“Beautiful Failures” – Youngblood from Youngblood EP – Jan. 22nd

“Science My Son” – Youngblood from Youngblood EP

Youngblood Official Website

Calgary Band Drop New Album

Calgary contemporary folk band Electric Kazoo‘s track “Ambiance”, the album’s kick-off track, is quintessentially Electric Kazoo: a gently infectious melody, an elliptical, engrossing electric guitar riff, atmospheric accordion, strong vocal harmonies, and the band’s customary philosophical lyrics. Here are two tracks from the band’s new album, Into the Great White Open.

“Ambiance” – Electric Kazoo from Into the Great White Open – Jan. 22nd

“Ceiling” – Electric Kazoo from Into the Great White Open

LA’s Animal Games Drops Debut Album

Animal Games is a Los Angeles sextet that blends various genres like indie rock, world music, pop, new wave and post punk into their sound in an effort to “achieve a brand of sonic catharsis that encompassed no rules and paid tribute to a plethora of influences and sounds.” It look the band a number of years from their start in 2007 to settle on a final lineup that was not fully realized until the summer of 2010 when lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Buxton-Smith joined.

In late January, Animal Games released their debut, self-titled album. In the years leading up to the album’s release, the band toured and opened for a number of bands, including St. Motel, Hellogoodbye and Lovers Drugs, and count among their biggest musical influences The National, The Smiths, Talking Heads, Interpol, U2 and The Clash. In reply to a question we ask on the music submission form, the band answered the ‘what is indie rock’ question this way: “Indie rock is more than a genre, it is the freedom to sonically express your emotions and beliefs in one of the most artistic formats. It is an independence from the historical standards of our industry and an opportunity to create our art our way.”

“Lily” – Animal Games from Animal Games – Jan. 21st

“Radiator” – Animal Games from Animal Games

Philly’s The Diigz Rock Fusion Grooves

The Diigz are a Philadelphia-based rock fusion with a new DIY released full length album called Mind F*!!k out now. “A lot of our songwriting is channeled as energy from the cosmos, the Akasha.” OK then. The first single, “Electric Eyes,” is a pop rock fusion track about surveillance.

Lead songwriter, vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Bob Venuto, recorded an album with Grammy-winning producer Phil Nicolo of Ruff House Records a few years ago, writing and playing all of the instruments himself. Now, with The Diigz, he collaborates with brother Mike Venuto (drums) and Darrien Kennedy (bass), Harvey Mason, who was the drummer on Herbie Hancock‘s Head Hunters album, and producer Darren Morze, who was lead production engineer at Union Transfer in Philadelphia. Venuto wrote that indie rock is “an organic hotbed group of people who look for art and music, not dollars.”

“Electric Eyes” – The Diigz from Mind F*!!k – Feb. 5th

“Saw My Baby/American Hat Dance” – The Diigz from Mind F*!!k

More Recent Singles Worth A Spin

Stream or download more recently released singles off new albums by both signed and unsigned indie bands that most people never heard of before, such as Elephant Stone, Fonda, The Shilos and Low Culture.

“Heavy Moon” – Elephant Stone from Elephant Stone – Feb. 5th

“Seeing Stars” – Fonda from Sell Your Memories – Feb. 5th

“Lapsarian” – Lady Lazarus from All My Love in Half Light Jan. 29th

“The Place Where Nobody Knows I Go” – The Shilos from So Wild – Feb. 5th

“Screens” – Low Culture from Screens – Jan. 15th

No. 1 Songs for January 2013 – Pere Ubu, The Capsules, Gliss and Lost Animal

Posted on 02/10/201307/22/2021 by Max Hammer

Hopes that 2013 will be a great year for independent and alternative rock music, with a wide variety of amazing albums and singles by well known, DIY and breakout bands were bolstered significantly by what turned out to be a strong January for music releases, offering music lovers plenty to listen to in the past few weeks.

The response from IRC listeners has been strong, especially in regards to DIY releases, including many truly talented unsigned artists and bands, as evident by the response to recent posts and the results of the Top 10 Songs weekly playlists for January.

And yet it was the 40-year running experimental, underground rock/jazz/pop veterans, Cleveland band, Pere Ubu, that took the honors of having the first No. 1 song of 2013 on IRC – as determined by which singles listeners streamed and downloaded the most during the week of January 8th to January 14th (since there were no significant number of releases for the first week of the year due to the holidays). There were many terrific small label and DIY artists’ songs that made the Top 10 for the week of Jan. 8th , including fresh tracks from Wooden Wand, Alex Vans, The Agreeables, Youthband, We’re No Heroes and Luck & Senses, among others.

“Free White” – Pere Ubu from Lady From Shangai on Fire Records

Week of January 15th

The week of January 15th (since Tuesdays are when most albums are released) was an encouraging one because of the quantity and quality of anticipated, and surprise, singles and albums, that came out. The relatively unknown band, The Capsules, blew past the competition – that included Yo La Tengo, Virals, Free Energy, The Head and the Heart and many others – to capture the No. 1 spot of the week.

“Across The Sky” – The Capsules from Northern Lights and Southern Skies on Vespera Records

Listen to the entire Top 10 Songs for the Week of Jan. 15th.

Week of January 22nd

For the last full week of January, the No. 1 song according to listeners was Los Angeles indie rock veterans Gliss, who many people never heard of before until their newest release, and the most popular song of the week, “Weight of Love.”

“Weight of Love” – Gliss from Langsom on Modern Outsider Records

Listen to all of the top songs for the week of January 22nd.

Week of January 29th

January has been characterized by surprise No. 1 songs, starting with Pere Ubu, right through to the end of the month with indie artist Lost Animal, who captured the No. 1 spot with his new single, “Say No To Thugs” from the album Ex-Tropical.

“Say No to Thugs” – Lost Animal from Ex Tropical on Hardly Art

Stream and download all of the Top 10 Songs for the week of Jan. 29th

Best New Releases, Week of Feb. 5th – Frightened Rabbit, Eels, Jim James, Guards, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down

Posted on 02/06/201312/18/2019 by Max Hammer

For indie music lovers, it’s a big, big week for top new releases from a variety of popular artists and bands, including the Eels, Frightened Rabbit, Jim James, Guards, My Bloody Valentine, Grouper, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Matt Pond, The Spinto Band, and others. The year in music for 2013 is starting to look really promising, as the past few weeks have shown, including the Best New Releases for the weeks of January 29th, January 22nd and January 15th, as well as Top New DIY Releases, 5 DIY Bands to Watch, DIY and Indie Artists Releases and Recent DIY Releases playlists.

The awesomeness begins with the newest album release by Frightened Rabbit, titled Pedestrian Verse. The Scottish band, led by Scott Hutchinson‘s dark lyrics and touching vocals, presents a personal and emotional masterpiece on their fourth release, drawing on the anthemic folk pop mix they’ve branded so well and accompanied by deep, touching sonics of reverb-heavy guitar work and frenetic rhythms, as displayed on the lead single (and the accompanying video) titled, “The Woodpile.” Another folk-pop-heavy album out this week, We The Common, from Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, demonstrates the artist’s increasingly political messaging while integrating more crisp acoustic instrumentation, followed by the Eels – easily one of the best bands of the past two decades – release of their tenth album, Wonderful, Glorious, along with the lead single, “New Alphabet.”

“The Woodpile” – Frightened Rabbit from Pedestrian Verse

“Holy Roller” – Thao and the Get Down Stay Down from We The Common
via TheDadada

“New Alphabet” – Eels from Wonderful, Glorious

Top Singles from Jim James, Guards, Matt Pond, My Bloody Valentine and Others

My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James (or Yim Yames), and member of supergroup Of Monsters and Men, dropped his third solo album this week, featuring the spectacular song, “A New Life,” easily one of the best new songs of 2013. Perhaps the most sunny, upbeat and catchy single from a new release this week is “Silver Lining” from the indie band Guards. They released their newest album, In Guards We Trust, this week. New-to-us band Airstrip rock out on the impressive surprise single, “Pleasure Center.” Plus, the latest from Ron Sexsmith, Darkstar, and Night Beds.

“A New Life” – Jim James from Regions of Light and Sound of God on ATO Records

“Silver Lining” – Guards from In Guards We Trust on Black Bell Records

“Pleasure Center” – Airstrip from Willing on Holidays on Quince Records

“Sneak Out the Back Door” – Ron Sexsmith from Forever Endeavour

“Amplified Ease” – Darkstar from News From Nowhere on Warp Records

“Wanted You in August” – Night Beds from Country Sleep on Dead Oceans

Jenny O Barters; Matt Pond Loves and The Spinto Band Shakes

Artist Jenny O., of Where The Wild Things Are fame, has a new album featuring title track, “Automechanic.” The song has a spaghetti western undercurrent yet is dominated by O.’s emotive vocals and lyrics that include; “I’ll trade you a tune for some gasoline.” With the way gas prices are going in the past couple of weeks (will be $7/gal. in two years), you can imagine how hard it is on bands that have little cash but need to tour to make money since it’s not coming from album sales, but we digress; the song itself is OK, but nothing you’ll remember a month from now.

Still, we felt compelled to include it for the Jenny O fans. First off, we did not know until this release that Matt Pond signed to BMG. Now, that’s interesting, and surely some of his early, hard-core fans may not be too happy with that arrangement; thankfully, it doesn’t seem to have had a negative effect on his music – an example eing his new single “Love To Get Used,”

“Automechanic” – Jenny O. from Automechanic on Holy Trinity Records/Thirty Tigers

“Love To Get Used” – Matt Pond from The Lives Inside The Lines In Your Hand on BMG

“Shake It Off” – The Spinto Band from Cool Cocoon on Spintonic Recordings

“One Thing” – Pascal Pinon from Twosomeness on Morr Music

Grouper‘s new single, “Vital,” is a dream pop track that is great if you’re in a melancholy mood, or just day-dreaming, but if you need stimulation, there are much more suited tracks earlier in this playlist of the week’s top new releases. In fact, one of the antidote’s for the sleepy feeling “Vital” conveys is the Guards‘ “Silver Lining.” In keeping with the chilled, mellow feel, the lead single, “Old Dreams,” from veteran singer/songwriter Hayden streams soft piano keys and acoustic guitar to set the mood.

“Vital” – Grouper from The Man Who Died in His Boat on Kranky

“Old Dreams” – Hayden from Us Alone on Arts & Crafts

Best New DIY Releases – Is Paris Burning, Heyrocco, Matt Churchill, The Hyper Actives, No TV Tonight!, Rounds

Posted on 02/03/201307/22/2021 by Max Hammer

This past week’s top DIY album releases mix includes new singles, EPs and LPs from artists and bands from Kansas City, Brooklyn, Stockholm, and two artists and bands each from London and South Carolina.

Embracing the C-86 music style of jangle pop fused with post-punk (even if they don’t realize it), Kansas City, Missouri indie rock band, Is Paris Burning, hits the mark on the catchy new single, “Wild,” from the band’s self-released double single that was released DIY style on Wednesday. The B-side track, “The City,” is just as enjoyable as the A-side, and there are bound to be folks who cannot decide which of the two they like the most. That’s always a good sign for a new band.

Is Paris Burning got together in 2012, and already they’re starting to make inroads on the DIY indie circuits. This is apparently the first time the band has been featured on a major indie site. In addition to having opened for bands like The Features, Rags & Ribbons, and Gold Fields, the band consider among their top musical influences U2, The Smiths and The Maccabees, to name a few.

“Wild” – Is Paris Burning from Wild – Jan. 30th

“This City” – Is Paris Burning from Wild

DIY Radar Band HeyRocco Drop New Single

Heyrocco is a Charleston, South Carolina based group made up of three best friends who decided to delay their college education to pursue their passion for music. Since forming in 2010, Nathan Jake Merli (vocals, guitar), Christopher Cool (bass, korg) and Tanner Cooper (drums, mandolin), Heyrocco has been gradually building a fan base thanks to their unique dark, nostalgic pop songs, and energetic and compelling live performances, opening for popular indie bands like Mutemath, Surfer Blood, Miniature Tigers and The Whigs, among others.

Heyrocco’s sound is often compared stylistically to bands such as The Cure, Nada Surf, and early Strokes, and, according to their bio, “spiked with an experimental blend of Broken Social Scene meets On A Friday.” In April of 2012, they dropped their debut LP, Comfort, followed this week by the release of a new single, “Elsewhere,” from a yet to be announced album supposedly planned for release this coming spring. “Elsewhere” is upbeat, catchy, and bursting with indie pop energy – the kind of song you want to play on a cold, dreary winter day because it sounds like a track for a springtime MP3 mix. Also check out the track, “Rave Monks,” from Comfort. Lastly, Merli’s answer to the ‘What is indie rock?’ question was: “Indie rock is a community of bands and labels that put out honest music. And goddamn does the world need it.”

“Elsewhere” – Heyrocco from Elsewhere single

“Rave Monks” – Heyrocco from Comfort (April 2012)

Stockholm Rock Trio The Hyper Actives

After gaining success in Sweden and across Europe, DIY rockers, The Hyper Actives, released their debut album, Rock ‘n’ Roll Lives Again, this past week in the U.S., following the official European release in November of 2012. After having played in different rock and metal bands in Stockholm, musicians Jens Holst (bass, lead vocals) and Jonte Skogsbrand (guitars, backing vocals) began work on The Hyper Actives in April 2008, with a concentration on traditional rock with strong melodies, memorable hooks, speed, intensity and groove. The following year, the duo discovered drummer Danne Berg, and the rock trio was complete.

The band’s fast-driving, energetic, blazing 70s-ish arena hard rock sound is molded in the tradition of bands like Black Sabbath, Johnny Winter, ZZ Top and AC/DC. In the summer of 2011, the band broke out with their first single, “Yeah Yeah Yeah,” which put them on the map in Sweden thanks to generous airplay by radio DJs, that eventually caught on outside of the country’s borders. The band is also planning to release a couple of EPs, and their sophomore full-length album, Top of the World in 2013. Here’s the band’s take on ‘what is indie rock’: “Indie rock is a creative explosion and a celebration of everyone’s possibilities [to] speak up and be heard in this new world, breaking down old hierarchical systems that have existed for many centuries.” Interesting.

“The Promised Land” – The Hyper Actives from Rock ‘n’ Roll Lives Again – Jan. 28th

“Rock ‘n’ Roller Man” – The Hyper Actives from Rock ‘n’ Roll Lives Again

Lawdan Mazloom’s New Band Drops Self-Titled Album

The Mazloom Empire is a pop-rock outfit from Columbia, South Carolina, headed by the 21-year-old musician Lawdan Mazloom. She started out not long ago playing acoustic solo shows before recruiting guitarist Zac Thomas to found TME. Eventually a full band was put together, featuring respected local musicians like Brett Kent (bass), Marshall Brown (piano), and Steve Sancho (drums). Kyle Petersen of the Free Times recently wrote that The Mazloom Empire is “one of the most talent-heavy lineups in the city.”

Mazloom’s smooth, yet powerful, vocals rise above the edgy, melodic grooves on the standout track, “Crystal Chandelier,” and as well on the more personal, emotive track, “Alison.” Mazloom’s main musical influences include Wilco, Ingrid Michaelson, The Kooks, and Tegan and Sara.

“Crystal Chandelier” – The Mazloom Empire from The Mazloom Empire – Jan. 29th

“Alison” – The Mazloom Empire from The Mazloom Empire

The Mazloom Empire Official Website

In response to the question (“What is indie rock”) on the submission form, Mazloom answered: “Indie rock is what keeps the world going round. It keeps things interesting. It keeps things different. Indie rock is the soul of music.”

DIY Brooklyn Outfit No TV Tonight! Debuts Split Single

Brooklyn based punk rock duo No TV Tonight! dropped a 7-inch split single on Saturday with fellow Brooklyn band Tin Vulva. Formed a year ago by guitarist and vocalist Jaime Marcelo and drummer Matt Storm, Tearing a page from the DIY principles of punk’s forefathers, NTVT!! does it all themselves with a focus on the music, first and foremost. Their energetic and passionate live shows have already garnered a local following in just a few months following the band’s first show last September. Among other things, an east coast tour in March and the release of their debut full length in the summer are in the band’s future for 2013.

“The Great Panic” – No TV Tonight!! from Split 7″ (with Tin Vulva) – Feb. 2nd

“Murder House” – No TV Tonight!! from Split 7″ (with Tin Vulva) – Feb. 2nd

Indie rock is “music for the love of the music. Independent of ulterior corporate motives. Passionate and honest.” – Jaime Marcelo / Guitar + Vocals

CA-Via-CT Artist Paul Hull Drops New LP

Pat Hull is a soul/singer-songwriter from Connecticut currently based in Chico, CA. His music intertwines melodic vocals and finger picked guitar notes to create a dreamy landscape with unpredictable hooks and interesting turns. Hull’s newest release, Shed Skin, was recorded in Bennington, Vermont, and produced by J.J. Beck and Michael Chinworth, aka, ‘The Mothers,’ who recruited an instrumental ensemble to support Hull’s vocally and lyrically charged performances. His musical inspirations include Radiohead, Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, M. Ward and D’ Angelo. Hull will be touring the east coast for the next two months in support of Shed Skin.

“Full Parade” – Pat Hull from Shed Skin – Jan. 26th

“Shed Skin” – Pat Hull from Shed Skin

Pat Hull’s Official Website

Denver’s Eye and the Arrow Embrace Genre Change

A little more than a year old, Denver band Eye and the Arrow is a DIY indie outfit that incorporates a number of genres into their music, without limiting themselves to one or two genres. The band’s new EP, If By Fire, is an amalgamation of musical styles created by long-time friends and collaborators.

“This is our first real release,” says guitarist and vocalist Paul DeHaven, who describes the band as “built on the interplay of the trio, tireless syncopation, and songwriting.” There are odd time changes and witty plays on words. On the single, “Prophet’s Hometown,” folksy earnestness abounds, which percolates with viola and cello arrangements. On the track, “LSD Western,” Mark Anderson’s drumming leads a growing psych-rock war cry that is engaging and compelling.

“This album is an exploration of our potential as a three piece band, of style and song structure through the lens of our collected creativity,” adds bassist Jason Hecker. “It’s derived from the spirit of punk bands that shaped us all in high school, while keeping in step with the emotional and musical complexities that we’ve found in artists like Sufjan Stevens and Wilco.” Eye and the Arrow will be touring in this spring and summer in support of If By Fire.

“Prophet’s Hometown” – Eye & the Arrow by If By Fire – Jan. 26th

“LSD Western” – Eye & the Arrow by If By Fire

Eye and the Arrow on Facebook

London Acoustic Artist Matt Churchill Drops 7″

Matt Churchill is a DIY acoustic singer/songwriter from London who takes inspiration from “the way that people communicate and interact, turning these every day actions into stories.” We don’t know very much about Churchill, but his new self-released double-single, “Radar” displays his fondness for a mix of styles, including acoustic, indie folk, and shoegaze, as evidenced by the title track and the B-side, “Not Enough Feet.”

About playing live, he wrote: “Each set is never the same, with the audience dictating the mood and ambience.” Churchill’s musical influences include Neil Young, Idlewild, Nick Drake, Noel Gallagher, Band of Horses and Buffalo Springfield.

“Radar” – Matt Churchill from Radar – Jan. 28th

“Not Enough Feet” – Matt Churchill from Radar

London Electronic Artist Rounds Releases Debut EP

Rounds is a London-based alternative electronic trio that is not exactly DIY (they are signed with a small indie label, Blind Colour) and has grown a fan base in the U.K. and Austria. Their debut EP, Falter, includes five tracks of richly textured and layered experimental electronic music that is more revealing after repeated plays. Rounds doesn’t opt for gloomy sounds, as much U.K. electronic does, but instead, as the band wrote: “a fusion of The Cure and Radiohead-esque melodic pop and alternative rock; the experimental bass music of bands like Burial or Mount Kimbie, and ambient and deep house laced with glitch, Warp-inspired electronic soul born from a huge range of influences.”

The band consists of Robert Cooper (vocals, synths), Andrew Chapman (guitar, synths), and Ashley Kemp (drums, sampler). Falter is the band’s follow-up to the July 2012 debut EP drop, Escapist, the latter which received positive reviews among British music sites and blogs.

“Falter” – Rounds from Falter – Jan. 28th

Best New Releases, Week of Jan. 22nd – Ty Segall, Toro Y Moi, Joy Formidable, Nightlands, Growlers, Ra Ra Riot, FIDLAR, DRGN King

Posted on 01/24/201301/09/2020 by Max Hammer

What a blockbuster week for new album drops, and the singles from those releases. In fact, this is the first week of 2013 in which there are a significant number of anticipated releases, as well as surprises, from a variety of well-known artists and bands.

While the Best New Releases playlists posted in recent weeks started out slow, they started to pick up in mid-January. In fact, there is quite a bit to listen to from many artists that we’ve followed for years – like Ty Segall, Toro Y Moi, The Joy Formidable, Nightlands, The Growlers, Ra Ra Riot, and DRGN King, among others. In addition to the impressive number of new albums from well-known artists, there are some great new releases from new-to-us bands like Gliss, FIDLAR, Nosaj Thing, The Night Marchers, Arboretum, among others.

Ty Segall Teams Up with Mikal Cronin on Reverse Shark Attack

Anytime we see anything with Ty Segall‘s name on it, we get excited, and his latest track with Mikal Cronin, “I Wear Black,” is a raucous rocker with crazy Jimi Hendrix-like guitar affects; but the duo go even further, using various modern pedal effects and such to belt out a chunk of guitar and drum noise that is probably the most cut-throat track from a new album so far this year.

“I Wear Black” – Ty Segall & Mikal Cronin from Reverse Shark Attack on In The Red

Toro Y Moi Evolves Again on His Newest Album

Toro Y Moi is easily one of the top indie artists of the past couple of years. And while his music has gone through tremendous evolution and change since he started out in 2009, so have his abilities, and time and again, he proves that his talents and songwriting skills are worthy of all of the attention he has received since hitting it big in the world of indie rock in 2010 to the present day. His new album is yet another progression of his mastery of his latest fancy – pop and R&B.

“Say That” – Toro Y Moi from Anything in Return on Carpark

For an artist who started out in electronic and integrated elements of hip hop and other genres in the past few years, Toro Y Moi, otherwise known as Chaswick Bundick (what an interesting name, plus it rhymes, and you can bet he’s heard just about all of the stupid jokes and puns regarding his name), he is remarkably consistent when it comes to delivering excellent results. People don’t care what someone’s real or made-up name is – they care about the music, especially among folks who are repelled by mainstream, overly commercialized ‘music.’

In addition to the catchy lead single, “Say That,” from Anything in Return, we also included a bonus track and links to two videos, which, when you watch them through the built-in Yahoo player, should pop open a screen and play them right on the page so you can stay where you are in order play or download all of the other singles from the week of January 22nd, 2013’s releases.

“Try” (feat. Toro Y Moi) – Nosaj Thing from Home on Timetable Records via Innovative Leisure

Watch the video for “Say That” as well as “So Many Details”

New Singles from Nightlands, The Growlers and Others

Nightlands has been on our radar for the past year or more, and the band’s new album, Oak Island, was also one of our top anticipated releases for January. Here is the terrific single, “So Far So Long,” followed by the latest singles from the new albums by The Growlers and The Joy Formidable.

“So Far So Long” – Nightlands from Oak Island on Secretly Canadian

“Use Me for Your Eggs” – The Growlers from Hung at Heart on Everloving

“This Ladder Is Ours” – The Joy Formidable from Wolf’s Law on Atlantic

Ra Ra Riot Change Up, Introducing DRGN King, FIDLAR and More

The Syracuse, New York, indie band Ra Ra Riot dropped their third full-length album, Beta Love, this week, featuring a noticeable change in style from baroque pop to synth pop, a switch in sound the band embraced after cellist Alexandra Lawn left the band last year. Following Ra Ra Riot is the Philadelphia band to watch DRGN King, with the frenetic, catchy track, “Wild Night,” from their accomplished album, Paragraph Nights. Switching gears quite dramatically, FIDLAR, the lo-fi garage/surf rock band from Los Angeles, jumped into the fray this week with their blistering self-titled debut album, followed by The Night Marchers, Gliss, Renny Wilson, Arbouretum, Foxygen, Pillowfight and Big Harp.

“Beta Love” – Ra Ra Riot from Beta Love on Barsuk

“Wild Night” – DRGN King from Paragraph Nights on Bar None

“Cheap Beer” – FIDLAR from FIDLAR on Mom & Pop Records

“All Hits” – The Night Marchers from Allez Allez on Swami Records

“Weight of Love” – Gliss from Langsom on Modern Outsider Records

“By and By” – Renny Wilson from Sugarglider on Mint Records

“The Promise” – Arbouretum from Coming Out of the Fog on Thrill Jockey

“Shuggie” – Foxygen from We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic on Jagjaguwar

“Used To Think” – Pillowfight from Pillowfight on Bulk Recordings / EMI

“Waiting For Some Drunk” – Big Harp from Chain Letters on Saddle Creek

Recent Releases We Almost Missed – The Hot Dark, Norwegian Arms, Brave Baby, John Haesemeyer and Eric Howl

Posted on 01/21/201301/09/2020 by Max Hammer

Earlier this week, IRC ran the Best New Releases of the week, featuring singles from new albums by artists like Yo La Tengo, Virals, Free Energy, Christopher Owens, as well as the Band of the Week, Scarlet Youth.
First up is San Francisco DIY post new wave, sax-rock band The Hot Dark who dropped their new EP, oddly titled January 2013 EP, earlier this week. The two singles the band sent in from the new EP are fairly good for a DIY band has been together for less than a year. As you’ll hear, the six-piece fog city band has a big sound and a lot going on in their tracks with all kinds of instruments – from electric guitar to the saxophone. The lead track, “Blossom,” is simply a great track, easily of the best of the week.

“Blossom” – The Hot Dark from January 2013 EP

The band actually started out as a duo in 2007 when musicians Kiel Williams and Rick Moore joined forces in a trashy Boston apartment. Since then they have released two studio albums under the name Descendants of Prospectors. The duo grew to a six piece touring band to play the complex arrangements of the recordings on the road.

As the band progressed, their sound ventured far from the electronic folk sounds of their original album, and with the added influence of singer/songwriter Owen Ridings, it really began to feel like a whole new band. Despite the resistance from a core group of die hard fans, they decided their new band, now based in San Francisco, needed a new name, thus the birth of The Hot Dark .

“In Retrospect” – The Hot Dark from January 2013 EP

The band members consider among their top musical influences artists such as Francis and the Lights, Minus the Bear, Rubblebucket, m83 and Tuneyards.

Philly Musicians Brendan Mulvihill and Eric Slick’s Debut as Norwegian Arms

Written in Siberia over the course of an intense, cold year, knee deep in snow and cultural shock, musician Brendan Mulvihill returned to Philadelphiaa few months ago to begin recording the songs that he wrote while isolated in the frozen tundra overseas. Mulvhill reunited with his Norwegian Arms partner, Eric Slick from Dr. Dog, one of Philly’s most popular local indie rock bands, to craft the first Norwegian Arms LP released earlier this week.

“Like a Stray Dog” – Norwegian Arms from Wolf Like a Stray Dog

Charleston’s Brave Baby Drops Debut LP

Here’s another band that you’ll probably not read about or get a chance to hear on any other site we know of. Charleston, South Carolina indie band, Brave Baby, crossed our radar for the first time last week after they sent in a couple of tracks from their debut LP, Forty Bells, dropped this week via the small indie label, Hearts & Plugs. We’d say, after listening to Forty Bells, that Brave Baby is a band to watch in 2013.

On the standout track, “Magic & Fire,” the band grooves on a feel good rhythm, soaring lead guitar jams by Christian Chidester, chorus-led vocals, rounded out by Wolfgang Zimmerman’s steady drum beats and crashing cymbals, and an understated bass line. On the second single the band shared with us, “Living in a Country,” the overall sound is a bit more melancholy, especially as delivered by the wonderfully emotive vocals of Keon Masters, and cut with erie, high-pitched synth notes. But the song is largely dominated by the jangling, shoegaze-style electric guitars.

“Magic & Fire” – Brave Baby from Forty Bells

“Living In A Country” – Brave Baby from Forty Bells

The band has opened for groups like Holy Ghost Tent Revival, ELIM BOLT, The Rejectioneers, and others, and consider among their musical influences Arcade Fire, The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, and Bon Iver.

Brave Baby Artist Page – Hearts & Plugs

Acoustic Artist John Haesemeyer Fuses Folk with Other Genres

Inspired by legends like Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, San Francisco acoustic folk artist and singer/songwriter John Haesemeyer dropped his new album, Come Along Quickly, earlier this week. Originally from the Midwest, I am a San Francisco singer-songwriter who fuses folk, country, and popular genres. In April of 2012, Haesemeyer quit his corporate job to focus on his “lifetime passion” of songwriting.

“Musically, the album spans a variety of genres,” Haesemeyer said, “unified by my voice and acoustic guitar.” He recorded the album at the legendary Hyde Street Studios (where artists like Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s Deja Vu was recorded) and at the nationally renowned San Francisco Conservatory of Music, featuring 15 instruments and four vocalists. Haesemeyer is reportedly working on a music video for the album’s title track with the talented film director, Sebastian Sdaigui, and his esteemed production team from the highly acclaimed Berkeley Digital Film Institute.

“Come Along Quickly” – John Haesemeyer from Come Along Quickly

“A Little Confidence” – John Haesemeyer from Come Along Quickly

John Haesemeyer Official Website

“Indie rock means that you are focused on the art of music , not the commercial aspect – being true with yourself and your listeners.” – John Haesemeyer

Pennsylvania Musician Eric Howl Records with Houshiarnejad Farzad

Doylestown, Penn. – Local musician Eric Howl, a DIY singer/songwriter of various styles, including rockabilly, blues, indie and folk, was lost in 2009 and down in the dumps. But a 50-something schizophrenic called Cal, snapped him out of his depression and inspired him to record a new album.

“Your generation doesn’t want to study you all want is to be famous tomorrow,” Cal said. That comment set Howl on a journey of devouring and studying the music of legends such as Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and Blind Willie McTell. But it wasn’t enough; Howl’s soul was still torn and he felt buried beneath the earth. He flew to New Orleans after a Reiki Healer in a Chicago airport told him he should be a healer.

Howl also fled to NOLA because he was tired of making music with machines, and sick of the rapid pace of the east coast. While couch surfing and traveling with strangers, he pursued a rejuvenation of his love for jazz again, and learned about ragtime and skiffle. In 2012, Howl recorded I’m Going Down with his friend Houshiarnejad Farzad of the indie band Drink Up Buttercup.

“I’m Goin’ Down” – Eric Howl from I’m Goin’ Down

“You Already Know The Way To Brahma’s House” – Eric Howl from I’m Goin’ Down

Eric Howl’s Official Website

Major Musical Influences included Bob Dylan, Elliott Smith, Jay Electronica, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, and The Shins

“Indie rock is the resonance of how American music began; from the swamp. The power and freedom of voice and people, community and spirit. Being haunted and thrown on the back of a violent wolf on the way into hell, then climbing out with a guitar.” – Eric Howl

Best New Releases, Week of Jan. 15th – Yo La Tengo, Virals, Free Energy, Christopher Owens, Pickwick & Sharon Van Etten

Posted on 01/17/201307/22/2021 by Max Hammer

The number of new album releases is now starting to pick up. In fact, this week presents a healthy dose of new drops from a variety of artists covering a wide spectrum of musical styles. Some of the more popular and well-known artists and bands with new material out this week include Yo La Tengo, The Head and the Heart, Virals, Free Energy, Christopher Owens, and Pickwick, among others. We’re also working now on a treasure trove of excellent new albums, and singles from those albums, by an array of DIY and small label artists, set to post this weekend – you’ll really want to put aside some time to read about, and listen to, nearly a dozen talented artists and bands that most of you have probably never heard of before (and many of which will only be posted on IRC).

But first, let’s give a listen to new singles from fresh albums by more widely known, signed artists, starting off with the legendary indie rock band, Yo La Tengo, who we’ve been big fans of for a long time, and who are partly responsible for popularizing indie rock. On Tuesday, the New Jersey trio dropped their 13th album, Fade. The lead single, “Ohm,” is a six-minute-plus lo-fi indie rocker with a wall of fuzzy guitar rhythms and solos.

“Ohm” – Yo La Tengo from Fade on Matador

Lovvers Former Frontman Re-Emerges With New Outfit, Virals

England’s Shaun Hencher, the former frontman behind the popular cult band, Lovvers, has re-emerged with a new music project called Virals. Apparently, he had no plans to form a new band, and even went back to work doing the 9 to 5. But what started as a “fun thing to do” a few nights a week progressed into a new band and now the release of Virals’ debut EP, Strange Fruit. The title track showcases what Hencher calls “meat and potatoes rock,” and what we call one of the best new tracks of 2013, and one of the first bands to watch of 2013. The bonus track, “Summer Girls,” is a fast, feel-good guitar rock tease for everyone who wishes it was summer right now.

“Strange Fruit” – Virals from Strange Fruit EP on Zoo Music

Bonus track: “Summer Girls” – Virals from Strange Fruit EP on Zoo Music

Free Energy Drops Sophomore LP; Stick to Their 70’s Niche

After listening to “Summer Girls,” it seems only appropriate to follow it up with the latest from 70’s pop rock enthusiasts Free Energy. In 2009 and 2010, the Philadelphia band were riding a wave of blogger love, fan approval and touring non-stop. While their 70’s Cheap Trick sound is still appreciated by many fans, their sophomore album, Love Sign, will probably not get the kind of stir of attention and love that their 2010 debut, Stuck On Nothing, garnered. Still, the band delivers what their fans expect on Love Sign, including the lead single from the album, “Girls Want Rock.”

“Girls Want Rock” – Free Energy from Love Sign on Free Energy Music

New Singles by The Capsules, The Head And The Heart, Mystical Weapons and Others

This week also saw the release of new albums by The Capsules, featuring the catchy indie single, “Across The Sky”, followed by another acoustic classic from The Head And The Heart with “Josh McBride.” Former Girls‘ frontman and now acoustic singer/songwriter Christopher Owens delivers a terrificly heartfelt, emotive hook on “Here We Go,” that flourishes with piano, flutes and electric guitar riffs, together with his whispery, dreamy vocals from Owens’ first album since leaving Girls; Parquet Courts pick up the pace with their straight away, no frills indie guitar rock single, “Borrowed Time,” followed by lead singles from new albums by Mystical Weapons and Criminal Hygiene.

“Across The Sky” – The Capsules from Northern Lights and Southern Skies on Vespera Records

“Josh McBride” – The Head And The Heart from Josh McBride/Honey Come Home 78 rpm single on Electric Records

“Here We Go” – Christopher Owens from Lysandre on Fat Possum

“Borrowed Time” – Parquet Courts from Light Up Gold on What’s Your Rupture?

“Mechanical Mammoth” – Mystical Weapons from Mystical Weapons on Chimera Music

“Rearrange Me” – Criminal Hygiene from CRMNL HYGNE on Small Smile Records

Swedish DIY Indie Outfit Marching Band

Marching Band is Swedish duo that have been playing music together for nearly a decade. This week the band released their self-produced EP, And I’ve Never Seen Anything Like That. Previously, the duo have released two critically acclaimed albums, one with Adam Lasus, and one with Jari Haapalainen. They’ve opened for bands like Loney Dear, Wildbirds and Peacedrums, and comedian Adam Green. The duo has previously been featured in Rolling Stone magazine, Pitchfork, and the AllMusic Guide.

“And I’ve Never Seen Anything” – Marching Band from And I’ve Never Seen Anything Like That EP – Jan. 15th

“Artistic Man, Shaved Head” – Marching Band from And I’ve Never Seen Anything Like That EP

DIY Drops from Pickwick, Midnight Spin and Reissue from Punksters Vampire Lezbos

Although we still have an entire separate post of new albums from a variety of DIY artists and bands that will be published this weekend (see the most recent DIY releases, featuring a great selection of relatively unknown, but talented bands), here are a couple of others worth checking out in the meantime, including the popular unsigned band Pickwick‘s self-released Covers EP, featuring the super talented Sharon Van Etten. The three-track EP is a precursor to the band’s much anticipated DIY full-length album slated for release in March while they’re on tour and gearing up for a number of appearances at SXSW 2013. Also check out the lead single from the new DIY drop by Midnight Spin . To close out this playlist post, veteran punk rockers Vampire Lezbos reissued their self-titled debut this week via Flat Field Records.

“Lady Luck” (feat. Sharon Van Etten) – Pickwick from Covers EP

“Lion Run” – Midnight Spin from Don’t Let Me Sleep

“Plasma” – Vampire Lezbos from Vampire Lezbos (reissue) on Flat Field Records

Don’t miss this week’s bonanza of new releases from DIY artists, coming up this weekend, featuring many artists slated to get their first ‘big’ (or their first at all) write-up on the web. In the coming weeks, in addition to our ‘best of 2012’ playlists, will be a flurry of fantastic music from artists and bands from around the world. Anyone that follows indie, or has been visiting IRC for years, knows that some of the best music you’ve ever heard came from artists that you had never heard of before, but are so glad you did. We have that Eureka moment many times a week.

Best New Music Releases, Week of Jan. 8th – Broadcast, Pere Ubu, Wooden Wand, plus DIY Artists Alex Vans, Colin Davis, Ceremonies

Posted on 01/10/201307/22/2021 by Max Hammer

The first new releases of 2013 are slowly starting to trickle in, as they often do at the beginning of a new year. To fill the void of well-known artists and bands with new releases, we have a number of new and recent releases from DIY bands and artists from across the country, and around the world – hopefully, you’ll find some new bands and songs to stream or download. But before we get to the DIY artists, check out new drops this week from soundtrack creators, Broadcast; rock veteran Pere Ubu; artist to watch, Alex Vans; and the indie band Wooden Wand. DIY releases include new singles from bands and artists most people have never heard before (and many of which only appear on IRC, which is the case with hundreds of musicians we feature each year), such as Ceremonies, Colin Davis, The Agreeables and a few others that are featured below.

As we do at the beginning of each year, we’ll be posting more playlists and profiles highlighting the best songs, albums, bands, artists and videos of 2012. In fact, earlier this week, we posted the first volume of the Best Songs of 2012.

Note: There were not many new releases for the month of December, 2012, so it makes it a bit trickier to do the Top 10 Songs playlists for each week of December. But, we’ll manage to find a way to get that done, although some of the Top 10 playlists for December may not have a full list of 10 songs. Stay tuned for that.

“Free White” – Pere Ubu from Lady From Shangai on Fire Records

“Southern Colorado Song” – Wooden Wand from Blood Oaths Of The New Blues on Fire Records

“The Equestrian Vortex” – Broadcast from Berberian Sound Studio on Warp

“Good Enough” – Alex Vans from DJ Booth (self-released)

New Swedish Duo Drops DIY Debut

From Gothenburg, Sweden, the DIY indie pop/rock duo Ceremonies recently released their dark, brooding, debut singles, “Black Wings” and “Promises” from their self-titled, debut album. The duo was founded by musicians Malin Dahlberg and Marcus Bergman in mid-2012o. Their aim is to make “distinct songs that don’t hide behind concepts, ideas or too many layers.”

“Black Wings” – Ceremonies from Ceremonies – Jan. 3rd

“Promises” – Ceremonies from Ceremonies

California ‘Super Hero’ Duo The Agreeables

The DIY indie rock duo, The Agreeables, from Santa Barbara, California, started out as a musical, and two of those involved, who we only know as Rick and Camille, gradually into a musical duo. On Jan. 8th, they released their debut EP, Bonus Tracks (not quite clear on why a debut EP would be called ‘Bonus Tracks’). Surely some people will roll their eyes, but the duo are branding themselves as ‘superheroes’ whose mission, they say, is ‘saving the world one melody at a time.’ They consider among their top influences The Beatles, Elton John, Cat Stevens, Wilco, and Cracker.

“I’d Fly Away” – The Agreeables from Bonus Tracks – Jan. 8th

“Place Called Home” – The Agreeables from Bonus Tracks

Ithaca Musician Drops Debut EP of ‘Soulful Folk’

Colin Davis is a 20-year-old DIY singer/songwriter from Ithaca in upstate New York. Performing in local bars and coffee shops for the past couple years, Davis dropped his debut EP, The Restless and The Wicked on the first day of 2013. He performs soulful indie folk with a “touch of unashamed pop influence.” In response to ‘what is indie rock?’ Davis replied: “Not necessarily independant, which the term probably intended for, but more so an Innovative, interesting take on traditional rock/folk styles. ” His top musical influences include Ray LaMontagne, Wilco, AA Bondy, Father John Misty, Jeff Buckley, and Otis Redding. The album cover, however, is just all wrong – it looks like a wallpaper photo taken off some other site somewhere (if even it’s not). For an album titled The Restless and The Wicked, the last album cover in the world that should be used is this one. The problem with lazy, unimaginative and terrible album covers in recent years has gotten way out of hand. Artists and bands, especially DIY, need to understand that the album cover is so important, even in the digital age, and music lovers have good reason to scold artists for many of the album covers we’ve seen over the past five and more years.

“Unsustained” – Colin Davis from The Restless and The Wicked EP – Jan. 1st

“The Restless and The Wicked” – Colin Davis from The Restless and The Wicked EP

Colin Davis’ Bandcamp Page

Check back in a few hours for even more featured DIY artists and bands that you’ll likely only hear on IRC.

Recent Releases Almost Missed, Vol. XXI – TRMRS, The D.A., Pale Seas, Starlight Girls, Finn Riggins, Buxton, AJ Nutter

Posted on 07/06/201212/18/2019 by Max Hammer

The southern California band, TRMRS, which is an abbreviation of “tremors,” released a split 7-inch vinyl, Good Time Blues, on April 7th with Seattle rock band The Night Beats. The title track, “Good Time Blues” is a five-minute guitar jam that switches between ‘trash-pop’ and surf rock. The B-side single, “Enter The Door,” is a crashing psychedelic rock track that also includes elements of space pop and chill wave.

Different people have different ways to describe the same songs. With that caveat, the music blog, The Hollow Eyed, described the B-side single, “Enter the Door,” as “Dream Syndicate-style paisley power pop with reverby , slacker surfy shine,” and continued, “whereas the preview’s title track takes the sun-bleached mentality and, like a rocket into the basement, covered in slime, gives off a much bouncier and squirming blaze.” However, there is confusion, and conflicting accounts, around what The Night Beats contribution was to the double single.

“Good Times Blues” – TRMRS from Good Time Blues – April 7th

“Something Or Nothing” – Pale Seas from Something Or Nothing – March 6th

“Big Woman” – The D.A. from You Kids! – March 13th

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9hMzB1Qq68

“Benchwarmers” – Finn Riggins from Benchwarmers EP – April 17th

“The Hunch” – Starlight Girls from Starlight Girls – March 24th

“Boy of Nine” – Buxton from Nothing Here Seems Strange – Jan. 31st

“When The Sun Sets” – Mouth of Ghosts from When The Sun Sets – May 1st

AJ Nutter Inspired by Hitchcock’s Classic, ‘The Birds’

From Lancaster, Pennsylvania, ambient electronic artist AJ Nutter released a 10-inch vinyl double-sided LP in February via 16 Pound Rabbit, featuring hand-dripped wax on the jacket. Influenced by Alfred Hitchcock‘s film, The Birds, Nutter created a musical composition that reflects his admiration for the horror film classic.

He wrote that the 100 limited blue vinyl LPs are likely most interesting to Hitchcock fans and soundtrack enthusiasts. Here are two tracks from the album, including “Bodega Bay,” which is a small seaside town about 35 miles north of San Francisco where Hitchcock filmed many scenes from the movie. In fact, the old school house from the film remains in tact and has been a tourist attraction for more than 60 years.

“Bodega Bay” – AJ Nutter from The Birds – March 1st

Way Back Now: Cardinal’s First Album in 18 Years Since Legendary Debut; Plus, First GBV Classic Lineup Album in 16 Years

Posted on 01/29/201210/16/2021 by Max Hammer

The international musical duo Cardinal caught our attention the first time we heard a couple of their orchestra pop and folk art tracks from the just-released album, Hymns. The duo – comprised of musicians Richard Davies and Eric Matthews – qualify for a series we started a while ago called Way Back Now – which highlights bands and artists who’ve released a new album of original fresh music 10 or more years since their last release.

So, nearly 18 years since the release of their stunning, self-titled debut album, Davies and Matthews reunited last year to record Hymns for the indie label, Fire Records. For fans of indie chamber pop, Hymns is definitely one of the first albums of 2012 that should be in your collection.

In 1994, at a time when grunge was the flagship genre of the alternative music scene, and a few years before Belle & Sebastian, among other musicians, raised indie chamber pop to new heights, Cardinal released their eponymous debut, which unfortunately did not have the benefit of the Internet to spread their ground-breaking music the way it did in the late 1990’s to today.

The duo’s label, Fire Records, wrote: “[The duo’s debut] ushered in an era of renewed appreciation for the orchestrated pop music of the 1960s, and at the same time inspired and influenced a host of modern artists, who followed in Cardinal’s footsteps, endeavoring to duplicate its majesty and sound so classic.”

Even though Cardinal’s debut largely flew under the radar, PopMatters, recently wrote: “…it ended up becoming one of those hidden pop gems. Its understated, lush yet gauzy orchestration, its penchant for near-neo-classical flourishes, and its bittersweet, dreamy feel made it an often arresting listen.” Whether, over time, Hymns, achieves the same admiration among indie pop fans and historians as the duo’s first release, remains to be seen, but it’s doubtful.

Consequence of Sound, which gave Hymns three out of five stars, recently wrote in its review: “Now facing a musical landscape in which orchestral elements are commonplace [Editor’s note: Arcade Fire being among the most famous], Cardinal’s newest album is worth revisiting but ultimately doesn’t break any memorable ground.”

That said, we can say with some confidence that Hymns, in many respects, picks up where Cardinal left off 18 years ago – lush chamber pop, masterfully composed and executed, and evidence that even nearly two decades later, these unsung heroes of the orchestral pop, haven’t lost their skill. The popular Seattle radio station, KEXP FM, wrote of Hymns on their blog: “an impressive set of psych-tinged chamber-pop with a variety of well-crafted, beautifully textured songs.” If you are a fan of chamber pop, or even just great music, you’ll want to get yourself a copy of Hymns (purchase via Amazon ), but perhaps you’ll want to start first with the duo’s masterful debut (which includes 11 additional tracks not on the original release thanks to Amazon’s special, limited time offer), which was reissued in 2005. We’ve included a track from Cardinal as well just to give our listeners an idea of just one of the great tracks on the album.

“Love Like Rain” – Cardinal from Hymns

“Silver Machines” – Cardinal from Cardinal

Earlier this month, another Way Back Now band, Guided By Voices, reunited the “classic lineup” of the band to release its first album in 16 years! It’s not the first Guided By Voices’ album since that time, but the first with the classic lineup that was originally formed in 1984.

In September 2011, original GBV singer and band lead man, Robert Pollard, announced on his website that the band would release the new album, Let’s Go Eat The Factory, on January 1, 2012, the first album from the “classic lineup” since 1996’s Under The Bushes, Under The Stars. The lineup includes Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Greg Demos, Mitch Mitchell and Kevin Fennell, who also spent most of 2011 on a reunion tour. The new album is surely a bonus gift for new and long-time GBV fans.

Read more of our review of Let’s Go Eat The Factory (get it from Amazon for great price!), published earlier this month, and watch this video of the classic lineup